Million-Dollar-Plus City Residential Project Proposed to Planning Commission Needs Zoning Board Okay
By Jeff Toquinto on December 10, 2025
A new subdivision of property that could lead to as many as six new homes on property in an established neighborhood in Bridgeport received preliminary plat approval. It was one of two that saw a preliminary green light in front of the Bridgeport Planning Commission Monday.
The request for plat approval on West Olive Street drew most of the questions and discussion from the Commission and NOVA Builders 
Group, LLC. Claude J. Ryan serves as the managing member.
Group, LLC. Claude J. Ryan serves as the managing member.
Property at 232 West Olive Street is looking to be divided into six lots for six residential units. The property would include a shared driveway, and the plan would see the construction of six 1,335 square-foot homes with estimated prices between $315,000 and $335,000.
While given preliminary approval, the matter now goes before the Bridgeport Board of Zoning Appeals at a day and time yet to be announced. The reason for that move is that the four of the six lots are 5,696 square feet and two of the lots are just over 6,000 square feet. New home construction requires lots to be 6,000 square feet unless a variance is granted. The Zoning Appeals board would have to grant the variance.
Ryan, along with fellow NOVA representative Larry Porter, told the Planning Commission they could meet the requirement of 6,000 by
going to five lots. However, there is a specific reason for six lots versus five.
going to five lots. However, there is a specific reason for six lots versus five.
Porter explained that the State of West Virginia in 2023 announced the “BUILD (Building Universal Incentives for Development) in West Virginia Act that gives developers incentives such as no sales tax on construction materials, post completion property tax credits from the state and more. However, to qualify there needs to be six or more housing units or the units must be more than $3 million, which this will not.
If the Zoning Appeals Board okays the variance of lot size, as well as a variance needed for a shared driveway, then it would come back to the Planning Commission. At that time, residents in the area would also be informed of the plan prior to that meeting. If the Zoning Appeals board denies the variance, it would still likely come back to the Planning Commission for the developer to do five lots – minus the 
incentives from the state.
incentives from the state.
Porter pointed out that the infill development in existing residential areas of Bridgeport meets the city’s goals as spelled out in the recently approved update to the Comprehensive Plan. He also said the smaller homes come with a smaller price tag that most new stock in the city and would be desirable by many, particularly young families.
While the Commission gave its okay, members had questions. Doug Gray and Rodney Kidd both showed some concern about going under the 6,000 square foot standard. However, they both noted that when that stipulation was added to the rules for the city decades ago that reasoning for it was never listed.
The other items given preliminary plat approval was for Trey Oliverio to subdivide a parcel on Orchard Avenue. Oliverio plans to build a home, members said, on the newly created parcel.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Andrea Kerr, Bridgeport Community Development Director, making a point to those gathered at Monday's meeting, while Larry Porter addresses the Planning Commission in the second photo. Bottom photo is of Planning Commission President Rodney Kidd.
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